Pakistan’s rooftop solar generation will achieve a significant milestone next year. For the first time, it will exceed daytime power demand on the national grid in major industrial regions.
A senior government official revealed this development to Reuters. The trend reflects a record-breaking surge in solar panel installations across the country.
This solar boom lowers emissions and reduces electricity bills. However, it also disrupts power utilities’ finances due to falling demand for grid electricity.
Aisha Moriani, Secretary of Pakistan’s Climate Change Ministry, confirmed the outlook. “Pakistan will experience negative grid-linked demand during certain daytime hours because behind-the-meter solar is offsetting grid consumption completely,” she said.
This phenomenon would place Pakistan among the first major emerging markets to reach this point. Regions in Europe and Australia see similar issues, but Pakistan’s situation is unique in its scale.
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Cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sialkot are expected to be the first affected. These industrial hubs have the country’s highest solar adoption rates. Frequent power cuts and rising electricity tariffs have driven the solar boom. This has made Pakistan the world’s third-largest importer of solar panels.
The government now faces the challenge of managing this rapid transition. “Pakistan’s challenge is not whether renewable energy will grow; it is how fast the grid, regulation, and market design can evolve to keep pace,” Moriani stated.
Officials are planning new tariffs and fee structures for large solar users. The goal is to ensure these businesses contribute their fair share to grid maintenance costs. The shift is also impacting national energy contracts. Pakistan is renegotiating its liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals with suppliers like Qatar.
The country seeks lower prices and more flexible delivery schedules. The strategy aims for energy affordability and stability, not an expansion of gas dependency
